Village Malaria Worker (JMD) Cadre Training: Strengthening Malaria Control in Mimika

MALARIA PERDHAKI—TIMIKA. Malaria remains a serious public health concern in Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province. As of July 2026, the Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) Malaria Center recorded 86,747 malaria cases in Mimika. To achieve malaria elimination by 2030, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia has set a target for the Mimika Regency Government to conduct 2,075,723 malaria tests by 2028.

As part of the malaria elimination program, training for Juru Malaria Desa (JMD) cadres and cadre supervisors was held on September 7–11, 2026, at Hotel Horison Diana, Timika, Mimika, Central Papua. The training aimed to strengthen cadres’ capacity in early detection, basic case management, and data reporting. The activity reflects a concrete commitment to serving community health.

The training was attended by 27 JMD cadres and two cadre supervisors. Participants came from SSR Emanuel Mapurujaya Parish, SSR St. Peter SP3 Parish, and SSR St. Stephen Sempan Parish, as well as Timika Health Center and Timika Jaya Health Center. The cadres attending the training came from Pomako Village, Kaugapu Village, Mware Village, Perintis Urban Village, Pasar Sentral Urban Village, Timika Indah Urban Village, Bhintuka Village, Limau Asri Timur Village, Bintang Lima Village, Olaroa Village, Landu Mekar Village, Kebun Sirih Urban Village, Kwamki Baru Urban Village, Minabua Urban Village, and Kamoro Jaya Urban Village.

The activity was organized by SSR-SR Yayasan Caritas Timika with funding support from the Global Fund through Persatuan Karya Dharma Kesehatan Indonesia (Perdhaki).

Ketua Panitia sekaligus Program Manager SSR Paroki St. Stefanus Sempan, Bapak Yohanes Erwin P. Raharusun, S.H., mengatakan bahwa kader JMD memiliki peran penting dalam membantu menemukan kasus malaria sekaligus mendampingi pasien dalam menjalani pengobatan di tingkat kampung dan kelurahan. Karena itu, peningkatan kapasitas kader diperlukan agar pelayanan kepada masyarakat dapat dilakukan secara tepat dan berkualitas.

“Malaria prevention and management require the involvement of the entire community,” said Head of SSR St. Stephen Sempan Parish, Father Norbertus Broery Renyaan, OFM, in his remarks. He emphasized that malaria control is not solely the responsibility of health facilities but also requires community participation and healthy behavioral changes.

Pada kesempatan yang sama, Kepala Bidang Pencegahan dan Pengendalian Penyakit (P2P) Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten Mimika, Bapak Linus Dumatubun, memberikan apresiasi kepada para kader yang selama ini aktif membantu petugas di lapangan.

Menurut Bapak Linus, tingginya penemuan kasus malaria di Kabupaten Mimika mencerminkan upaya deteksi aktif yang dilakukan oleh petugas kesehatan dan kader. Upaya tersebut perlu terus diperkuat melalui peningkatan kapasitas kader serta koordinasi yang baik antara kader, Puskesmas, dan pemangku kepentingan lainnya.

Kompetensi teknis kader penting untuk menjamin pelaksanaan tugas di lapangan secara tepat dan bertanggung jawab. Bapak Linus juga menekankan pentingnya ketelitian kader dalam melakukan rapid diagnostic test (RDT), mengambil sampel darah, serta memahami penggunaan dan dosis obat. Para kader diharapkan mengikuti rangkaian pelatihan dengan serius sehingga mampu menerapkan materi yang diberikan.

The Mimika Regency Health Office also encouraged the sustainability of the malaria program, including through the submission of local government budget proposals to support cadres working in the field.

Stronger synergy among cadres, health centers, SSR, SR, PR, and the Health Office is expected to ensure that malaria control efforts are implemented sustainably and have a tangible impact on reducing malaria cases in Mimika Regency.

In every step, with dedication and strong determination, cadres and cadre supervisors continue their meaningful service to free villages from malaria.